Sad to hear the news yesterday that Billy Zoom the legendary guitarist of Los Angeles band X was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Happy, though, to report that a GoFundMe campaign to help him out has almost been completely funded after just one day. If you want to help push it over the top, here is the link.We reached the end of another work week, and we have a pretty interesting shuffle to close things out…

By the way, a couple of songs in the shuffle today prompt me to issue the reminder that I repeat every so often. Each morning’s shuffle is randomly selected by my music player from a Playlist that I create and maintain.

“One I Love” by Kevin Gordon

Nashville is a town of songwriters. One of our best, is Kevin Gordon. I feel fortunate that I have had several opportunities to see him over the last month or so, and he never disappoints. This song goes back to his 2012 album Gloryland.

“Waitress” by Hop Along

Hop Along are an indie folk band from Philadelphia. This song is from their album called Painted Shut and the recording is from one of the World Café sessions. I am interested in hearing more from this band.

“Another Planet” by Human Radio

Another track from the self-titled album by the Memphis/Nashville band who reformed last year and who are trying to raise funding for a comeback album. Visit their Facebook page for more information. By the way, the band is making a return trip to the town where they were formed tonight. If you are in Memphis, check it out.

“Communist Daughter” by Atticus Floyd

Another awesome track from the album Russell Stover Stole My Babbie (sic). Since, we last posted an Atticus Floyd song, they have added a video to the You Tube universe. It is a cover of the Neutral Milk Hotel song “Engine” and features Atticus with Hayden and Evan from The Foresters.

“Weakness Was Always Your Strength” by The Transcendents

Our friends from Down Under (New Zealand to be more precise and Christchurch to be even more precise), The Transcendents, just released a new EP called “Lay Where You Collapse”. In order to make room for that EP, we need to clear out some space (not really), but to get you ready for a flood of posts from the new EP, here is a track from their self-titled debut album. Two bits of trivia/important info: 1. The new EP includes a cover of a Will Oldham song from before he was Bonnie Prince Billy and 2. The Transcendents and I share a mutual love of early (and very late) R.E.M.

“Ahull” by Loscil

Loscil are an ambient band from Vancouver, B.C. This track comes to us from a sampler associated with the Big Ears Festival held in Knoxville, TN – earlier this year.

“It’s All Going to Pot” by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard

If the Shuffle was not random, some might think I posted this song because it happens to be Willie Nelson’s granddaughter Raelyn Nelson’s birthday, but the shuffle is random… so it is in retrospect that I dedicate this song to Ms. Nelson. Also, I was talking about this song with a friend just a couple of nights ago. Again just a coincidence.

“Pancho and Lefty” by Mike Thomas

Never a band thing to close out a week of shuffles with a Townes Van Zandt song. I’ve kind of lost touch with Mike Thomas, but if you ever see him playing around Dickson or Nashville, check him out.